LegHallEvening

Bill to stop school boards hiking property tax is tabled

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A bill that would ban a local school tax increase after the statewide property reassessment is completed was tabled Wednesday in the House Educaiton Committee after a lengthy discussion. House Bill 42, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would remove the up-to-10% increase in school property taxes that current law would allow schools boards to levy. Rep. Rich Collins, …

The statewide ombudsman program provides student advocacy services to Delawareans.

New Del. ombudsman program has helped 70 struggling students

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Last June, second-grader Jackson Houtman seemed on the brink of being booted from the school he had choiced into. Diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, his behavior had gotten him into trouble, and the school seemed to be using that as a reason to remove him from their rolls and steer him back to the school that was in his feeder …

sb election 3

School board elections underway; polls close at 8 p.m.

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Red Clay candidates have placed their campaign signs around North Star Elementary School in Hockessin. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News) It’s election day in Delaware. On the ballot: 38 candidates throughout the state in what has turned out to be one of the most divisive and partisan school board elections in memory.  Patriots for Delaware sent out an email at 2 …

Tenant right to counsel bill released from House committee

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill to guarantee tenants the right to legal counsel in eviction proceedings was released from the House Housing and Community Affairs Committee Wednesday. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 101 will now advance to the House of Representatives for consideration.  Among other things, the bill: Creates a right to legal representation for renters facing eviction whose household income is …

Seaford mayor pushes back against AG’s fetal remains lawsuit

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Seaford Mayor David Genshaw says the ordinance has nothing to do with a woman’s right to get an abortion. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings on Tuesday filed suit against the City of Seaford in the state’s Court of Chancery over an ordinance relating to the manner by which abortion clinics must dispose of fetal remains.  Now, Seaford’s mayor and city …

Pro-business group, ACLU to rally to open police misconduct records

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware will rally in Dover to support bills that would create transparency of policy records. Photo by Brian K. Leonard.     UPDATE: This rally has been postponed to Monday Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. A business group that promotes government transparency plans to hold a rally at Legislative Hall to advocate for the passage of …

Speakers at Senate meeting strongly oppose changing FOIA

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill aimed at restricting Freedom of Information Act requests generated spirited opposition from members of the public at a Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday. No members of the public spoke in support of SB 155. If released from the Senate committee, the bill would be brought to the Senate floor for a vote before being …